How many hours is an optimal work week? And how much do you put in?
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
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I currently put in zero hours and still get paid. It doesn't get more optimal than that.
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David1987 wrote:
I currently put in zero hours and still get paid
Are you a politician? :-D
Too much of heaven can bring you underground Heaven can always turn around Too much of heaven, our life is all hell bound Heaven, the kill that makes no sound
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
whatever it takes to do the job. some days will be long, some will be short.
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I currently put in zero hours and still get paid. It doesn't get more optimal than that.
And how did you get to that?
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
I think the more interesting question is, do you have an employer that recognizes when a creative process means not necessarily sitting in front of the computer 8 hrs a day, and also, when you put in those 80 hr work weeks, do you get some decent recognition? Marc
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whatever it takes to do the job. some days will be long, some will be short.
same thing. sometimes more, sometimes less.
Watched code never compiles.
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I think the more interesting question is, do you have an employer that recognizes when a creative process means not necessarily sitting in front of the computer 8 hrs a day, and also, when you put in those 80 hr work weeks, do you get some decent recognition? Marc
Marc, You are right on the spot for one thing. However think of it the other way. There are certain employers where if you don't put 80 hours a week, there may be someone else willing to do your job and maybe even for less. Also, where do you stand if you are a contractor or self employed? I met a contractor two years ago that was "forced" to work 8 hours a day only. We may be in the middle of a meeting, but the clock hit 4pm and the guy would stand up and leave. And he was part of the management of the project. But that's a different story.
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
Well, I put in as much time as is needed. Normally the week passes so fast I don't know where it went, but then I'm doing exactly what I want to do and getting paid for it. What could be better? As long as I'm still having fun, it's still optimal. It seems to me that people who worry whether the work week is too long, too stressful, etc. are people who didn't have the good fortune to choose a career they like love. Honestly, I feel very, very sorry for them.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
Approximately 40.0000
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
xavier morera wrote:
how much hours do you put in
I've almost always worked at small, early stage companies, where although the official work week is 40 hours, I end up putting in 50+ hours per week. It can creep up to 60, although IMHO that isn't sustainable for more than a few months. Every company I've worked at has recognized the extra effort put in by their employees.
xavier morera wrote:
what do you think is optimal?
I think a 40 hour work week allows for a decent work-life balance. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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And how did you get to that?
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No no, then I would have said "I currently put in zero hours, and I'm using all your tax money to go on expensive vacations all year long!" :)
Must be a lawyer then.
The problem with borrowing money from China is 30 mins. later you feel broke again.
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First of all, it depends on which side of the fence you are. If you are a driven entrepreneur it can probably go up to 80 hours a week. Also if you work for a financial institution like in Wall Street or a big law firm that number also stands. On the other hand, if you are an employee there is a chance your work week is around 40 hours per week. I've heard that the optimal work week is around 40 - 50 per week, and that if you consistently put around 80 you can develop traumas. In any case, how much hours do you put in and what do you think is optimal?
0 hours is optimum, but 40 hours is necessary to get a pay check. If you're not dickin' around doing crap you shouldn't be doing, 40 hours should be enough time to accomplish your assigned tasks, assuming the schedule wasn't arrived at by a bean counter with nothing even approaching a "clue" as to how software is developed, or that some folks on the team may be new programmers, or new to the project 9if already underway). In the end, you work as long as you need/want to in order to get the job done. For instance, I busted my ass over the last couple of weeks to get a task done on an existing web site that I had never seen before. The delivery date was beginning-of-business this coming Monday. I worked last Saturday for a couple of hours to achieve a self-imposed milestone, and finished the task yesterday with four hours to spare. At that point, the boss came up with a new requirement that required another 4.5 hours to complete (including testing). I left work a half-hour later than usual because neither me nor the boss wanted to come in over the weekend, but the task was indeed completed. In short, you do what you gotta do, regardless of the hours you might have to put in.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Well, I put in as much time as is needed. Normally the week passes so fast I don't know where it went, but then I'm doing exactly what I want to do and getting paid for it. What could be better? As long as I'm still having fun, it's still optimal. It seems to me that people who worry whether the work week is too long, too stressful, etc. are people who didn't have the good fortune to choose a career they like love. Honestly, I feel very, very sorry for them.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
Walt, I guess I didn't explain myself or the question could go both ways. My original thinking was "what do you think is the optimal work week in terms of PRODUCTIVITY". If you work 80 hours one week, is it really as productive as working 60 and then putting an extra effort the next week. And about your comment, I am on your side. I really love where I am working now, I actually just got an offer that involved a LOT of money (my standards, at least) and rejected it because I like more where I am now.
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0 hours is optimum, but 40 hours is necessary to get a pay check. If you're not dickin' around doing crap you shouldn't be doing, 40 hours should be enough time to accomplish your assigned tasks, assuming the schedule wasn't arrived at by a bean counter with nothing even approaching a "clue" as to how software is developed, or that some folks on the team may be new programmers, or new to the project 9if already underway). In the end, you work as long as you need/want to in order to get the job done. For instance, I busted my ass over the last couple of weeks to get a task done on an existing web site that I had never seen before. The delivery date was beginning-of-business this coming Monday. I worked last Saturday for a couple of hours to achieve a self-imposed milestone, and finished the task yesterday with four hours to spare. At that point, the boss came up with a new requirement that required another 4.5 hours to complete (including testing). I left work a half-hour later than usual because neither me nor the boss wanted to come in over the weekend, but the task was indeed completed. In short, you do what you gotta do, regardless of the hours you might have to put in.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997Good response. That's what I always do, work to get the job done. As I mentioned in an earlier post I was thinking more in terms of productivity. There is a saying that I love "if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed". Burn out your troops and your not likely to have a long term success.
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Good response. That's what I always do, work to get the job done. As I mentioned in an earlier post I was thinking more in terms of productivity. There is a saying that I love "if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed". Burn out your troops and your not likely to have a long term success.
xavier morera wrote:
There is a saying that I love "if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed".
Uh oh. The company I work for is doomed, then. :sigh:
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Good response. That's what I always do, work to get the job done. As I mentioned in an earlier post I was thinking more in terms of productivity. There is a saying that I love "if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed". Burn out your troops and your not likely to have a long term success.
xavier morera wrote:
"if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed".
Well said. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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xavier morera wrote:
"if your business model relies on heroes, then your business model is flawed".
Well said. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
That's one. The other one is where a company makes you "Jack of all trades" and I always add "master of none"
My new toy: www.cloudclipx.com -- If I have 8 hours to chop down a tree, I spend 6 sharpening my ax!
